US EditioniPhone 18 Pro could deal with the RAM crisis through a storage hike — here's why I think that's unlikely
- Ahead of the expected iPhone 18 launch later this year, analysts say Apple could raise iPhone 18 Pro prices by making 512GB the base storage, repeating a tactic noted by Craig Moffett.
- Heightened competition for wafer capacity means, according to TrendForce, contract DRAM and NAND prices could rise up to 90–95% this quarter, driving memory costs higher.
- On the hardware side, analyst estimates show Apple could pay $57 more for the two memory types in the base-model iPhone 18 compared to iPhone 17, with NAND soldered to the logic board affecting storage choices.
- On the most recent earnings call, Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said rising memory prices had minimal impact last quarter but will affect gross margin this quarter, while Ming‑Chi Kuo predicts Apple will avoid raising iPhone 18 Pro starting prices.
- Skeptics point out that Apple's supply-chain management avoids passing cost hikes directly to customers, and the article's author and analysts find repeated storage-driven price increases unlikely while Apple explores Intel chip supply.
19 Articles
19 Articles
After 12 years with TSMC, Apple explores new partners for chip manufacturing
Sources have told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has begun exploring the idea of sourcing certain processors from other foundries. The discussions appear to focus on the lower end of its product lineup – chips where absolute performance and power efficiency are less dependent on bleeding-edge fabrication technology. No...Read Entire Article
Tim Cook didn't rule out price rises for Apple products, and here's why
Apple CEO Tim Cook declined to comment on repeated questions during Thursday’s earnings call about how the company would respond to rising memory costs. The decision on whether to absorb rising costs or pass them on to customers in the form of higher prices is not going to be an easy one, and a look at the numbers makes it clear why Cook was unwilling to rule out the latter possibility … more…
AI demand forcing Apple to look for alternatives to TSMC
Apple is no longer the biggest client for chip foundry TSMC, and as it loses its stranglehold on the global supply chain, Tim Cook may have to turn to other manufacturers to meet demand for the iPhone and Mac.Apple wouldn't return to Intel-designed processors, but it could get Intel to manufacture its Apple Silicon designsAs previously reported, Nvidia is now the single largest client for TSMC, but losing that top spot is causing problems for Ap…
Apple evaluates chip suppliers other than TSMC for first time in 12 years · TechNode
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is evaluating whether to shift part of its low-end processor production away from TSMC to alternative suppliers—a move that, if implemented, would break a 12-year tradition of exclusive cooperation. Driven by the AI boom, NVIDIA has overtaken Apple as TSMC’s largest customer, securing a significant share of advanced process capacity. At the same time, memory suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix have …
Apple May Break a 12-Year Chip Strategy
TSMC has been the exclusive supplier of Apple's systems-on-a-chip since 2014, but that 12-year streak could be nearing its end. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is exploring whether some of its lower-end processors could be manufactured by a company other than TSMC.
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